Bob Elliott (basketball) facts for kids

Robert Alan Elliott, born on August 18, 1955, is a former American basketball player. He was an amazing student and athlete at the University of Arizona. Bob Elliott was named an All-American three times for both his sports skills and his good grades. He helped his team win a championship in the Western Athletic Conference and play in two NCAA tournaments.

He earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and later an MBA from the University of Arizona. Bob Elliott also used to be the leader of the Retired NBA Players Association.

College Basketball Star

Bob Elliott came to the University of Arizona from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Many people who love Arizona basketball say that Bob helped make the team famous. He played under coach Fred "The Fox" Snowden, who was the first Black head basketball coach in Division I college basketball.

Back then, UCLA was the big basketball team on the West Coast. But Bob Elliott and his team helped Tucson become a major basketball city. Games were always sold out, and basketball became very popular. People said Bob had a "drop step" move that was one of the best ever seen. He scored an average of 18.6 points per game during his college career from 1973 to 1977.

He is still second on the University of Arizona's all-time scoring list with 2,131 points. He also holds high records for field goals, attempted field goals, free throws, and attempted free throws. In 1977, he scored 39 points against Utah, which is one of the best single-game performances in U of A history.

Playing in the NBA and Beyond

The Philadelphia 76ers picked Bob Elliott in the 1977 NBA draft. However, he never played for them. Instead, he played basketball in Europe for half a year. After that, he spent three seasons playing for the New Jersey Nets.

After his time in the NBA, Bob Elliott played for the Detroit Spirits. This team was part of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) during the 1982–83 season. He helped the Spirits win the CBA championship in 1983.

Voice in Video Games

Many younger fans might know Bob Elliott's voice from video games! He worked as a commentator for the NBA Live games. From 1999 to 2003, he provided "color commentary" alongside sportscaster Don Poier. This means he helped explain the game and add exciting details for players.

Giving Back to the Community

Bob Elliott cares a lot about helping others. He is involved with many charities. He and his wife have even started a scholarship at the University of Arizona to help students.

Bob is also a talented musician. He plays at events across the country with the NBA Retired Players Association Band. This band often performs at NBA Cares events, which are all about helping communities. His wife, Beverely, is also very active in community groups. She has won awards for her counseling work.

Author of "Tucson A Basketball Town"

On February 26, 2014, Bob Elliott released a book called "Tucson A Basketball Town." He wrote this book with his former teammate and NBA player, Eric Money. The book tells the story of how basketball became popular at the University of Arizona during the Fred Snowden era.

It talks about the team being the first to play in the McKale Center. It also shares how they broke down racial barriers in sports. The book shows the strong support Tucson fans have always given their players. It also honors Arizona basketball teams from before Snowden's time, through coach Lute Olson, and up to Sean Miller.

Personal Life

Today, Bob Elliott lives in Tucson, Arizona. He and his wife, Beverely, have four grown-up children. They also have ten grandchildren! Besides his basketball history, Bob owns a successful accounting business in Tucson. His company, Elliott Accounting Group, has been helping people for over 30 years.

See also

In Spanish: Bob Elliott para niños

• List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds